Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-10-28

are interested IN good government, to give
more of their time to the formation of pub.
lie opinion and watchful attention to the
conduct Of public affairs-in word, to ex-
ercise that eternal vigilance" which sis the
price of liberty" When Jefferson said that
he covered the whole field Of political phi.
lossphy, and embraced the whole duty Of
republican citizenship.
We are forced back, then upon the axiom
which | quoted awhile ago, that "the only
security lies in general principles" The
| question fer you to decide is, Which set of
principles will you accept as the ground of
your action at this time, those of the Demo-
cratic party or those of the Republican par
ty? Leave Jackson and Brooks out of view,
and which do you choose, the principles of
John Quincy Adams and Seward and Davis
and Hicks and Blaine, or those of Jefferson
and Tilden and Hancock and Cleveland
That is one, and by no means the least, of
the questions which must be decided, try
as our enemies will to disguise and distort
it. Upon your answer many things may
depend. You cannot tell where its intiu-
ence will terminate, for we are told that
"long after the pebble is at the bottom of the
lake the circles expand and multiply upon
the suriace-the lifting of hand sends
vibration to the stars" Let US not forget,
in dealing with these public questions, that
there are things which justify revolution,
and presume that the right of revolution
is the very last which a self-respecting Amer
lean citizen will surrender. And this is as
true OF our relations to party as it is of our
relations TO legal government. The recog-
milton of it in our institutions has saved
us from many conflict which would have
overtaken any other people. But for the
very reason that it is the highest right-the
ultimate law Of -preservation-it is the
very last that should be resorted to, and can
be justified only upon grounds which are
tenable against all the world. 1t means
something more than the overthrow of men.
1t involves confusion first and reorganiza.
ton afterwards, and all the discomfort and
anxiety incident to these things, and is al
ways attended by the danger of reign of
fanaticism For these reasons, | repeat, it
cannot be justified but upon grounds too
obvious for contradiction, and after every
other means has been resorted to to obtain
redress Of the grievances complained Of
Having shown, in hasty and imperfect
way, | know, that there are strong and
cOgent reasons of a general nature why the
Democratic party OF Maryland should pre-
sent an unbroken line at this time, let US
see if there is any just local cause for the
revolt and alliance with the enemy of
number of citizens who have hitherto pro-
tessed allegiance TO Democracy. Their mani
festo is long and bitter, but its chief burden
is that elections in Baltimore city are not
fair that unworthy men have been APP
pointed to offices of trust under the State
and city governments, and that the manage
ment of the party has been, in many par
ticulars, high handed and dlctatoria!. For
the correction OF these evils they demand a
laa linn with
plfShce human wit can devise the sacred
ness of the ballotbox; candidates whose
characters are guarantee of faithful per-
formance of duty, and the overthrow Of the
oligarchs who control the party.
Now, that many Of these charges are true
no one with brains in his head will pretend
to deny. | have myself joined in an earnest
protest against them 1t was not peti-
tion-for here we all are peers-but frank
statement of wrongs and evils, manly,
straightforward demand for right and JUS
tice. We appealed to no outside aid. We
met as Democrats, believing in the funda-
mental principles of the party, and deter
mined TO carry the case to the bar of Demo
cratic conscience. When the State Central
Committee met they recognized not only the
fact Of the discomfort within the party ranks,
but the existence Of the wrongs and evils, OF
which abundant proof had been provided.
So far rs they could control the matter relief
was granted. 1t is not to the purpose to say
that the concessions were reluctantly made
There stands the fact that the primary cleo
tons were fair Then came the State Con-
vention, promising, in the event Of Demo-
cratic success at the general election, the
passage of laws which will secure fair cleo
lions in the future. Now, what becomes OF
the right Of revolution? Can it be justified
when government grants all the relief at its
command for the time being, and promises
further relief when the Legislature meets
Could 1t go further?
But we are told, and it is dinned into our
ears with every variety of expression that
the pledges of the Democratic party will not
be carried out, and the reason given for the
charge is that the men who controlled the
Democratic Convention have established
character for insncerity and duplicitY, and
the people cannot, therefore, rely upon any
promises they may make. Let us grant, for
the sake Of the argument, that this general
charge is true. Does it cover the case? Do
not these gentlemen, who bring il with so
much vehemence, and ring the changes upon
it with such startling medley of vituperation,
know that their State ticket, if elected, can
not give one grain of the remedy they pre-
scribe in such drastic doses2 They know
perfectly well that neither the Governor, the
Comptroller nor the Attorney General, nor
all OF them together, can do one earthly
thing towards the reform OF the election
laws of the State. That Is the function of
the General Assembly, and until it moves in
the matter the executive hands are tied by
the limitations OF existing law Further.
more, they must know that when the Leg
iolature moves in popular measure OF re-
form, the executive approval follows as
matter OF course. 1t Is not contended that
the mass OF Democratic voters is corrupt.
Now, | want you to recall the Democratic
nominations all over the State for the Gen
eral Assembly, and tell me if they are men
who will betray, or redeem the pledges Of
their party With very few exceptions,
no charge Of incapactY or corruption has
been brought against them. Many men of
talent are among them, leaders IN the com
munties where they dwell, whose charac-
tiers have been built up by daily deeds Of
honest duty, and TO doubt them would be
10 doubt that integrity can exist in any
human life. Long have they been fighting
the peoples battle, with that noble self sac.
rfice which sanctihes every cause which
engages IT, and now, after years OF conflict,
they see from the heights Of manly effort
assurances that the victory is WON. They
understand as well as any men can the full
significance Of their party's pledges; they
realize as earnestly as any men can the need
Of reform, and they have the strength and
the will 10 meet all the demands Of the time.
think, therefore, we have solid basis 10
rest our promises Of bctternlent upon--some-
thing more substantial than the generalties
of party platform. The leading Demo-
Gratis in the General Assembly will insist
upon it, and will be satisfied with nothing
less than the complete and triumphant vim.
dicaton Of the party's honor. There is not
much that can DO, but | shall, If ] am
elected, contribute my mite to that end, and
do not think there is any one TO question
my sincerity or 10 charge me with sub.
serviency 20 boss or faction.
Now, these gentlemen admit that they
have adopted an extreme remedy. They de.
clare that, upon all theoretical and practical
grounds, they adhere 10 the principles Of
the Democratic party, and that their fight is
against certain men and their methods, and
their real motive is TO purify the party and
obtain certain specific amendments Of law.
Had they looked over the whole field Of OPP
erations Maryland, they would have seen